Production and use[edit]
It can be also produced by hydrogenation of toluene:

CH3C6H5 + 3 H2 → CH3C6H11

Methylcyclohexane, as a component of a mixture, is usually
dehydrogenated to toluene, which increases the octane rating of
gasoline. [4]
It is also one of a host substances in jet fuel surrogate blends,
e.g., for
Jet AJet A fuel.[5][6]
Solvent[edit]
MethylcyclohexaneMethylcyclohexane has no particular applications, although it used as
an organic solvent, with properties similar to related saturated
hydrocarbons such as heptane.[7]
Structure[edit]
MethylcyclohexaneMethylcyclohexane is a monosubstituted cyclohexane because it has one
branching via the attachment of one methyl group on one carbon of the
cyclohexane ring. Like all cyclohexanes, it can interconvert rapidly
between two chair conformers. The lowest energy form of this
monosubstituted methylcyclohexane occurs when the methyl group
occupies an equatorial rather than an axial position. This equilibrium
is embodied in the concept of A value. In the axial position, the
methyl group experiences steric crowding (steric strain) because of
the presence of axial hydrogen atoms on the same side of the ring
(known as the 1,3-diaxial interactions). There are two such
interactions, with each pairwise methyl/hydrogen combination
contributing approximately 7.61 kJ/mol of strain energy. The
equatorial conformation experiences no such interaction, and so it is
the energetically favored conformation.
Flammability and toxicity[edit]
Like all hydrocarbons, methylcyclohexane is flammable.
Furthermore, it is considered "very toxic to aquatic life".[8] Note,
while methylcyclohexane is a substructure of
4-methylcyclohexanemethanol4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM), it is distinct in its physical,
chemical, and biological (ecologic, metabolic, and toxicologic)
properties.[9]
References[edit]